Attorney At Law August 2016 MARKETPLACEcontracosta.com 31 Since 2000, RCF has been dedicated to improving the quality of life in Richmond and the greater West Contra Costa County by building healthy and sustainable communities via the power of philanthropy. In addition to the Literacy Coalition and much more, RCF runs the Contra Costa County SparkPoint center which helps thousands of families move out of poverty, and they’re also responsible for the Richmond Housing Renovation Program which is funded by a first-of-its-kind social impact bond. “We’re using that to work with the City of Richmond to acquire vacant, boarded up homes and convert them into opportunities for first-time homebuyers,” Becker said. The West Contra Costa Literacy Program is just one of many aspects of RCF’s incredible efforts, created based on careful observation of what the community needs most. “There’s sort of a national movement to try to improve literacy levels for kids,” said Becker. RCF’s Literacy Coalition is based on the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s early childhood literacy program that highlighted research explaining how kids that read at grade level by third grade are more likely to graduate high school and go on to higher education. As the Literacy Coalition continues to grow, RCF is actively setting baselines for all the schools in their district so that they know the current literacy and attendance rates, as well as where students go in the summertime. Becker explains, “We’re going to measure against that as our projects move forward.” For more information or to get involved with RCF’s West Contra Costa Literacy Coalition, or the Foundation as a whole, visit www.richmondcf.org or call (510) 234-1200. RobeRt G. bonovich LivinG tRUStS Divorce • Evictions Probate • Wills (510) 799-1600 520 Second Street • Rodeo
Contra Costa Marketplace - Aug 2016
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